Making my own speaker stands?
Discussion
High stability and reducing resonance are key for a good stand. I'd go for a big 'footprint' on the base, use 3 spiked feet instead of 4 because 3 are inherently more stable. IMHO your time will be best spent on making sure the whole structure is well damped and doesn't introduce a big signiature of its own. Filling the internal space with dry sand is usually very effective, lead shot works well too, if you're feeling flush.
I thought about doing this but by the time I'd priced the materials from B&Q they came to £35 or so. I realised I could buy Atacama Nexus 6 stands for £60 and these would be much more solid than my half arsed attempts.
Be good to see yours if you do build them though so don't forget to post some pics.
Be good to see yours if you do build them though so don't forget to post some pics.
The subject of stability has been mentioned.
My mate has off the shelf stands for his Linn gear but has then made small 'independent' floors for these to sit on. Cut holes in the main floor and given them all their own foundations to sit on. No problems from people running around the room or jumping up and down dancing to Abba - or something.
And of course York felt an earthquake the other week.
My mate has off the shelf stands for his Linn gear but has then made small 'independent' floors for these to sit on. Cut holes in the main floor and given them all their own foundations to sit on. No problems from people running around the room or jumping up and down dancing to Abba - or something.
And of course York felt an earthquake the other week.
Tony,
Wood is a great stand material, because it won't ring like metal can.
However, you'll need to somehow brace / fill any internal void, so that you don't get a box thats like a big wooden drum.
At the most basic level, an X shape with platforms top and bottom would be the simple way to avoid this, but might look a bit pants.
Finally, stability is key - the less your speakers can move, the better your end accoustics will be.
Wood is a great stand material, because it won't ring like metal can.
However, you'll need to somehow brace / fill any internal void, so that you don't get a box thats like a big wooden drum.
At the most basic level, an X shape with platforms top and bottom would be the simple way to avoid this, but might look a bit pants.
Finally, stability is key - the less your speakers can move, the better your end accoustics will be.
Cheers guys,
I'm thinking 18mm MDF pillar but trapezoid at the base up to square/rectangel at the top. then fill with sand (dry of course).
Would I need floor spikes and maybe a metal plate to attach between the stand and the speaker.
The hardest bit is going to be the hopper bevels to fit it all together.
The stone is 6mm so I'd clash the box with that in this colour http://www.roxx.co.nz/02_nz/nz_AR014.html.
The other option is Corian, but we don't get many of the blacks in and white wouldn't go with anything in our lounge.
I'm thinking 18mm MDF pillar but trapezoid at the base up to square/rectangel at the top. then fill with sand (dry of course).
Would I need floor spikes and maybe a metal plate to attach between the stand and the speaker.
The hardest bit is going to be the hopper bevels to fit it all together.
The stone is 6mm so I'd clash the box with that in this colour http://www.roxx.co.nz/02_nz/nz_AR014.html.
The other option is Corian, but we don't get many of the blacks in and white wouldn't go with anything in our lounge.
I did my own, albeit just some basic rectangular boxes to sit my Gallo reference 3.1 on ;- raises the sound stage a bit as I felt the standard cone mounts were not tall enough
just 6" tall 30mm mdf, hole in top for kiln dried sand to damp
underneath they sit on big black sorbathane pads to interface to my solid wood floor
just painted with lots of coats of satin black to match the original finish
they look factory - most visitors cant believe they are not
cost about £50 I reckon, inc mdf, paint, sand, sorbathane ...plus a weekends labour @ £250 an hour
just 6" tall 30mm mdf, hole in top for kiln dried sand to damp
underneath they sit on big black sorbathane pads to interface to my solid wood floor
just painted with lots of coats of satin black to match the original finish
they look factory - most visitors cant believe they are not
cost about £50 I reckon, inc mdf, paint, sand, sorbathane ...plus a weekends labour @ £250 an hour
bogie said:
cost about £50 I reckon, inc mdf, paint, sand, sorbathane ...plus a weekends labour @ £250 an hour
Hopefully mine will be free depending on the mood my boss is in, as I'll be using offcuts and left overs.Then a trip to the beach to borrow some sand lol
I'll have to make sure I get my labour costs right though lol
my mates didnt understand my logic, having £££ speakers sitting on top of cheap home made boxes...but you couldnt buy stands to suit at the time
now a whole range available ...for big £££ as well
mine look like these, without the outriggers...
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=galler...
good luck with the FREE stands
now a whole range available ...for big £££ as well
mine look like these, without the outriggers...
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=galler...
good luck with the FREE stands
Not sure I'd agree that wood or mdf is the right thing to be building stands from even if they are clad in stone....if you need to fill the stands with sand or lead shot that's because the stands are resonating.
The best stands I ever had were a pair of HNE granite speaker stands.....absolutely transformed the sound....expensive but worth it. No need for sand or lead shot. Might be worth a trip to your local stone mason to see if they have any off cuts ?
The best stands I ever had were a pair of HNE granite speaker stands.....absolutely transformed the sound....expensive but worth it. No need for sand or lead shot. Might be worth a trip to your local stone mason to see if they have any off cuts ?
Incase anyones interested I finally got round to making these.
Stands are covered in Roxx Voodoo, the base platefor the speakers to sit on is Corian Night Sky and the Tiles are 10mm Stoneology Onyx doulbed up to make a 20mm tile.
At the moment I have some rubber bungs for the stands to sit on the tiles as not a single store in New Plymouth sells speaker spikes, so I'm looking at getting some nice brass/goldy colour ones made up as I don't like the look of a sanded piece of threaded rod, something like this: http://reviews.parts-express.com/2444-en_us/249-72...
I just need to play around with some sand to see if it changes/improves the sound.
Stands are covered in Roxx Voodoo, the base platefor the speakers to sit on is Corian Night Sky and the Tiles are 10mm Stoneology Onyx doulbed up to make a 20mm tile.
At the moment I have some rubber bungs for the stands to sit on the tiles as not a single store in New Plymouth sells speaker spikes, so I'm looking at getting some nice brass/goldy colour ones made up as I don't like the look of a sanded piece of threaded rod, something like this: http://reviews.parts-express.com/2444-en_us/249-72...
I just need to play around with some sand to see if it changes/improves the sound.
I went the home-made stand route a few years ago and filled them with expanding foam... worked a treat, completely damped the structure and eliminated any ringing (they were metal). It's also an extremely lightweight way of damping, relative to the sand / lead / concrete approach..
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